Growing Vine Vegetables

The vine crops, including cucumbers, muskmelons, pumpkins, squashes, watermelons, and citrons, are similar in their cultural requirements. In general they are not as important to the home gardener and do not compare with some other groups, especially the root crops and the greens.

Vine crops "run" on the ground and take up a lot of space. In small gardens they may be trained to a trellis, or bush-type varieties may be used.

A place can be found in most gardens for at least bush squashes and a few hills of cucumbers. They all make rank growth and require much space. In a large garden consider growing some muskmelons and watermelons...delicious and very nutritious.

Muskmelons and watermelons prefer a sandy loam soil that warms up early in the spring. Other vine crops do well in heavier soils, although more fruit belly rot may occur. The soil should be well drained and moisture retentive. The optimum pH range for vine crops is between 6 and 6.5. Liming will raise the pH of acid soils. Before adding any compost, manure, or fertilizer, a representative soil test should be taken.

Vine crops can be seeded directly in the garden. Plant cucumbers the first week in May. Space them at least 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Plant the other vine crops the last week of May. Space muskmelon and watermelon plants 24 inches (60 cm) apart. Space pumpkin and squash 24-36 inches (60 to 90 cm) apart; use the closer spacing if the variety is a "bush" type. Spacing between rows should be 5-6 feet (1.8 to 2 m) apart.

You may start the vine crops indoors in peat pots and transplant them to the garden on the above dates. Use a separate container (or cell in a seedling tray) for each seed to prevent damage to the roots when transplanting.

 Do not start the seeds too early. Tall, overgrown plants will not do well after they are transplanted. Many seed companies suggest planting in hills. This means to plant five or six seeds in a clump. After emergence, thin back leaving the one or two strongest seedlings.

Proper watering will insure good production. Vine crops need at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water from rainfall or irrigation each week during the growing season. Always soak the soil thoroughly when watering. There is little value in a light watering that only wets the surface of the soil. On most soils, watering once a week is sufficient. Sandy soils should be watered more frequently but with lower amounts applied at any one time.

Frequent shallow cultivation will kill weeds before they become a problem. The roots of the vine crops are close to the surface of the soil, so it is important not to cultivate too deeply or too close to the plants. Cultivate just deep enough to cut the weeds off below the surface of the soil. Continue cultivating as long as you can do so without injuring the vines, usually when the vines begin to spread between the rows. When cultivation is no longer possible, pull the large weeds by hand.

• Growing Cucumbers
  Tips on growing cucumbers in your garden
  
  
• Growing Muskmelons
  Tips on growing muskmelons in your garden
  
  
• Growing Squash
  Tips on growing squash in your garden
  
  
• Growing Gourds
  Tips on growing gourds in your garden
  
  
• Growing Pumpkins
  Tips on growing pumpkins in your garden
  
  
• Growing Watermelons
  Tips on growing watermelons in your garden